Bowling-alley.



H. V. G. HULLAND in W. H. WIGGXNS.

BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLIOA'I'ION FILED SEPT. 1U, 1912!.

Fatented Ju1y22,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED, sTATEs PATENT omnes.;

HENRY 'V'. C. HOLLAND AND WILLIAM H. WIGGINS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YBH.

BOWLING-ALLEY.

Specification of Letters Yate-nt.

Patented July 22, 1913.

To all 'whom t may concern:

lie it known that we, HENRY V. C. HOLn LAND and WILLIAM H. WIoGlNs, citizens ot the United States of America, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and f ball-retaining construction, to revent accidental displacement of the bal) useful Improvements in Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is ay specification, like characters in the drawings designating like parts.

This invention relates to bowling-alleys, and has for its primary object the provision of means for the return of the bowling balls from the pit end of the alley to the approach end by means ot an overhead return-ball runway or track, in order that the space required tor the return of the aforesaid balls need not be taken from that available tor the construction of the alleys proper, and thus more alleys can be built within a given area than'heretofore.

Another important object of our invention is to construct the return in such manneras to allord an unobstructed view of all alleys operating and to leave the foul line entirely clear and :tree from racks and newel posts, inasmuch as return balLrunways, as constructed heretofore, have interfered materially with the freedom of the player, distracting his attention, and diminishing the accuracy of his play.

Among other important objects of our inven-tion, is the provision of means to elevate the ball at the pit end of the overhead track, with means preferably to enable this elevator to be operated automatically or by hand, use bein-g made preferably of a weight tending normally to maintain the elevator at its highest osition adjacent to the point-at which tie ball is discharged from the elevator into the overhead track on its path to the approach end ot' the alley., We prefer to provide also means by which the elevator can be depressed to receive the ball for elevation and in connection therewith means to retain the elevator in its depressed position until released by the entrance of the ball into the elevator, other means being preferably provided by which when the ball has been discharged from the elevator at its high point, the latter is drawn by a suitable power device down into its depressed position and there caught ready to receive and prefer to provide an electric motor con-A trolled by electric contact-devices, to be de l scribed more in detail hereinafter.

Other important objects of our invention comprise the provision of an elevator of l during its elevation, and in combination therewith an ejector, acting automatically to discharge the ball from the elevator when the latter reaches its high point opposite the entrance to the track; also the provision of two runways, or tracks, at the point of discharge :trom ad'acent elevators, merging into a single trac at a suitable distance from the point of discharge, so that one track serves in general for the return of balls from a air ot alleys, and in connection with this dou leservice we prefer to provide the entrance track portions at slightly different heights, so that if balls arrive at the junction at approximately the same time, the point of contact will be oli" the dead center overcoming any tendency of the balls to jam in the openino of the main single run-way, and we preer to provide guide rails at approximately the center line of the balls on each side 'to prevent escape from runway. We have provided also a run-way or track structure of antivibrating character, thus to avoid unnecessary noise and interference with the attention of the players.

Other important objects comprise means to check the motion of the ball upon its arrival at the approach end and supply rack, so that substantially all momentum is exhausted, and this we prefer to accomplish by a. tortuous upright portion at the point at which the overhead track drops into the supply rack. Moreover this construction makes it possible to set the supp-ly rack well back of the foul line either parallel with or at any desired angle to the alley; leaving the foul line clear and entirely unobstructed.

The various features of our invention will be illustrated and described fully in the ac companying drawings and vspecification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a view in cross section, of a somewhat diagrammatic character, showing portions of several ad- .jacent bowling alleys, with an elevator in the construction of which our improvements of our improvements, the part designated by the reference numeral 1 is a bowling alley which may be of any suitable construction, and is shown as of well-known form, comprising the alley proper, or alleys, respectively bearing the numerals 3 and of which there may be any convenient number, and beside which may and preferably will be provided suitable gutters 5 and divisions 7 which at the pit ends rise to form kick backs 9 on which are mounted convenient seats 10 for the use of the pin boys.

In accordance with our invention, a re- Vturn track l1 is provided above the level of the players heads, running from the pit to the approach end, the entrance portion of this track being shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while the delivery portion is shown in Fig. 4, on a somewhat smaller scale, the middle portion being broken away, inasmuch as its extent is immaterial. This overhead track may be of any material and form suitable to convey the balls 2 and for the sake of lightness and quiet operation, it may be composed of pipes or wooden strips 13, carried by a suitable support, such as the ceiling 15, to which are fastened, by screws 17 in the instance illustrated, the brackets 19 preferably having antirattling devices 21, such as washers of elastic material, interposed between the strips or pipes 13 and brackets 19.

In accordance with another important feature of our invention means are provided to facilitate the introduction of the balls from the pit (at the far end of the alley, looking toward Fig. l) to the entrance of the overhead track, best seen at 23 in Fig. 2,

and any suitable device may be adopted for this purpose. One convenient form of such a device lis shown as an elevator, or elevators, 25, of which there maybe any suitable number, as for example one for each of the alleys, and the construction and arrangement of these elevators may be adapted to the exigencies of individual installations.

By way of example we have shown upright ways 27, with suitable braces 29, connected to a suitable support, as the ceiling at 31, and to a shelf 33 at the rear of the pit, and in these ways run' carriages 35, of suitable structure, preferably cage-like in general arrangement, and having concave bottoms 37, serving, in accordance with an important object of our invention, to center the ball out of Contact -with the ways 27, thus to diminish the frictional losses of power. To eject the ball positively, overcoming this centering action, suitable means may be provided, such as the bell-crank lever 39 pivoted at 41 upon the Ways 27, in position to have its arm 43 engaged with the cage 35 upon arrival of the latter opposite the entrance 23 to the track 11; when the leg 47 of the lever will be swung forward, kicking the ball 2 into the adjacent entrance portion 23, of the overhead track 11, whence the ball may run by gravity, in well-known fashion, along the trackto the approach portion 51 and supply rack 53, suitable means being preferably provided to check the momentum of the balls 2 at the region of their delivery to the supply rack, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In order to permit the use of a single track for the balls delivered by a plurality of elevator carriages 35, without such interference as might result in the displacement of one or more balls from the track, we prefer to provide means of any suitable character, to regulate the procession of the balls, and preferably this is accomplished, in the instance illustrated, by supporting at different levels the track strips 13 and 14 of which the adjacent entrance portions are respectively composed, thisarrangement being clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the strips 14 are shown upon a higher initial plane thanthe strips 13, but curved around to lead the ball 22 into the same main track 11 as the ball 2, with the effect that if two balls as 2 and 22 arrive simultaneously at the junction, the ball 22 at the lhigher level will over-ride the lower ball 2 and precede it into the common track 11, and the ball will not be jammed by the encounter.

,At the approach end of the bowling alley,

,where the balls are delivered to the supply rack 53, as already noted, suitable means are preferably provided to check the .momentum of the balls, which as will readily be understood, will tend to be in proportion to the height of the overhead track, relatively to the supply rack; and accordingly an important object of our invention resides in the means to control the delivery of the balls, which means may be of any suitable character. By Way of example, we have shown a tortuous track portion 55, strongly supported as at 57, and preferably compris-A ing reverse curves 59, 61 so that the acceleration of the ball 2, in its descent in a relatively short lateral space, is effectively checked, and the ball arrives in spent conaceaiei dition at the supply rack t3. The degree to which this tortuous portion of the track -is extend-ed may be varied in` accordance with the exigencies of'individual installa-y momentum 'and the track may lead intor the supply rack at substantially the slight deoline illustrated in Fig. 4, without `the deression of the delivery portion below the Ievel thereof.

The provision of means to operate the elevators constitutes an object of our invention of notable importance and to serve this purpose any suitable 'construction may be adopted. As one suitable form of device for this purpose We have shown means tending constantly to maintain the elevators respectively in ltheir elevated position, as shown in the drawings, the means 63, in the instance illustrated, taking the form of counterbal'anoes of sutlicient weight to raise the carriages 35, with the ball in place, as indicated, Ithe weights 63 being connected to the elevator carriages 35 by flexible mem bers 65, such as chains, runnin@ over pulleys 67. JWhen vthe elevators are Vt .us provided with counterbalances, we prefer to provide the elevators with means by which the cages may be lowered as required either by hand or automatically, or in both Ways, according to the exigencies of particular installations, the means tor this purpose bein of any suitable orm. In the instance il ustrated, an operating chain 71 is led from the counterbalance 63, over a pulley 73 to -a sheave 75 yjournaled upon an arbor 7 7 supported by the ceiling 15, and to actuate this sheave 75 to wind up cha-in 71 and raise weight 63 and thus to lower elevator cage or cages 35, we have shown chains 79, 81, of which the former may be operated by a handle 80, while chain 81 is led to a suitable powcr'device 82, taking the form, in the instance illustrated, of an electric motor, to which current may be led, as by conductors 83, trom a suitable source of current 84, so that when the circuit is closed through conductors 83, the motor 82 winds on chain 81, running it off arbor sheave 76, and winding chain 71 on shave 75 to lift counterbalance 63 and permit cage 35 to descend, of its own weight, into position, adj'acent to the Y p-it` shelf 33, to receive a ball 2, which the operator may throw into trough 91,by which it will be guided into the cage 35 when the latter is in posit-ion to receive a ball. To hold the cage 35 down in this position ready for a ball, we prefer to provide suitable means Such as the catch 93, pivoted at 95 at the bottom of the elevator shaft, and having its latch 97 normally in the upright position. The arm 93 rings a gong 99 when the arm swings into the position where-it is can ht.

e latch 97 stands up in the path of the ball, 2, and is knocked over toward the left, as the ball runs down from trough 91 into cage 35, the latch 97 releasing the cage, so that the latter is drawn upward by the de- Scent of weight G3. A

The control of the electrical circuits to effect this cycle of operations may be efected by any suitable means, and as one v convenient form of such means we have shown a contact device 103 comprising a spring arm in position for engagement with Weight -63 by which the s ring arm 103 is crowded over against another contact meinn ber 105, the members 103 and 105 being in the electric circuit of the motor 83, so that whenever the weight descends into the position shown in F1g. 1, contact is made between the members 103, 105, and the electric circuit established through motor 82 from battery 84, and the motor winds up the weight as already described, the contact being maintained at 103, 105 by an electromagnet 104 included in the motor circuit and actin on spring arm 103.

When tie cage 35 reaches its lowermost position ready for a ball, a contact piece 106, on the bottom of theV cage, bridges two contact pieces, 107, 108 included in a short circuit bridging the magnet 104, and the' current failing the magnet, it releases contact spring 103, and the motor circuit being thus broken the motor stops, leavin the cage 35 held down by latch 97, ready or release of the latch 'by a ball rolling into cage 35 lfrom trough 91.

Then when the latch 97 is so released, the weight 63 pulls up the cage 35 and ball 2 until the cage reaches the' top and ball 2 is kicked outaby lever L17, atl which time weight 63 presses cont-act arm 103 into contact with 105, where it is held by magnet 1011 while motor 82 raises Weight 63 and permits cage 35 to' make its return trip, at the end of which the latch 97 takes hold of cage '35, the magnet is shortcircuited, the motor circuit broken, and the cage awaits another ball, when the cycle of operations Will be repeated automatically.

At any time that the electrical circuits fail, the operator simply has to pull the handle 80, drawing up the Weight 63, and the cage 35 will descend until caught by latch 97, and the latter, when released by the entrance of a ball from trough 91, permits Weight 63 to raise cage 35 and ball 2, the operator having released handle 80.

Having illustrated and described our invention thus fully, and suitable means by which the same may be carried into effect, it will be understood 4that We do not limit ourselves to the specific materials and` structure illustrated and described by way of example. y

That we clailnas new, and desire to s'ecure by United` States.- Letters Patent, is:d 1. The combination with a bowling-alley;

.of a ball-return runway above the level of the players heads; and means to elevate said balls from thepit to said runway.

2. The combination with a bowling-alley; of a ball-return runway above the levelof the players heads; means to eleva-te said balls from the pitl to said runway; and means to deliver said iballs at the approach for playing.

3. The combination with a bowling-alley; of a. ball-return runway above the level of the players heads; means to elevate said balls from the .pit to said runway; means to deliver said balls at the ap roach for playing; and means to regulate t e momen-l tum o? said balls at the region of delivery.

4. The combination with a bowling-alley; of an elevator for the balls; means tending to draw said elevator upward with a ball in place; means to depress said elevator; and means operated automatically by said balls,

to initiate the operation of said elevating 5. The combination with a bowling-alley; ofA an elevator' provided with a counterbalance tending constantly to raise said elevator with a ball in place; means operable by hand to depress sald elevator; an electric motor to depress said elevator; and an electric contact device, operated by the elevator to initiate operation of said motor to depress said elevator.

balls and eject them respectively into said runway.

8. The combination with a bowling-alley;

of means to elevate the balls,4 comprising ways, and an elevator having a concave receptacle to center the ball out of contact with said ways; and means to eject'said ball against the'centering tendency of said concavity. l

9. The combination with a bowling-alley having an overhead runway to return the balls from the pit to a supply rack adjacent the level of the layers hand of an upright portion .of tracli connecting said runway and supply rack, and curved to spend the momentum of the ball.

10. The combination with a bowling-alley having anoverhead runway to return the balls from the pit to a supply-rack, of an upright portion of track connecting said runway and supply-rack, and havin relge'se curves to spend the momentum o said 11. The combination with a bowling-alley having an overhead runway to return the balls from the pit to asupply-rack, of an upright portion of track connecting said runway and supply-rack, and having a por- I of a return track, and a plurality of delivery portions constructed and arranged to deliver in predetermined precedence a plurality of balls arriving simultaneously at a given point.

'13. The combination with a bowling-alley having an overhead return track, of a pluralit of delivery track-portions at different heig ts to deliver in regular precedence simultaneously arriving balls, and thus to avoid jamming.

Signed at New York, inthe county of New York and State o f New York, this 27 th day of August, 1912. Q

` HENRY V. C. HOLLAND. WILLIAM H. WIGGINS.

Witnesses:

ALEXANDER C. PnoUDFrr, CHRISTINE M. DAUEL. 

